Academic Reading and Writing

Reading Strategies (3 hours)Provides basic strategies, e.g. skimming, scanning, identifying the structure of a passage, differentiating main from secondary ideas. NOTE: Students need to bring a text from their field of study

Critical Reading of Research Articles (3 hours)This workshop, which is aimed at senior undergraduate (3rd year or later) and postgraduate students, covers interpreting and asking critical questions about a text and its subject matter. The focus is on exploring alternative interpretations of texts, not on providing answers. NOTE: Students need to bring a journal article from their field of study.

Essay Writing (12 hours)Introduction to essay writing for social science and humanities students with a focus on the basic principles of writing persuasive analytical essays. Topics include: how to be analytical, how to use evidence, how to develop an essay structure and how to develop an argument. NOTE: If you register for this long workshop you do not need the following short essay writing skills workshops:Analytical Writing, Planning an Assignment, Analysing the Assignment Question, Developing an Argument.

Analytical Writing (2 hours)Looks at the differences between analytical and descriptive writing, and the process involved in developing an analytical approach to ideas and information.

Planning an Assignment (2 hours)Covers the planning and structure of common written assignments.

Analysing the Assignment Question (2 hours)Provides strategies for identifying the focus of the question and investigating how the wording of the question affects the structure of the response.

Developing an Argument (3 hours)Focuses on developing an argument from relevant literature, and on presenting that argument with evidence to support it. It involves synthesising and evaluating information to substantiate a point of view.

Writing in an Academic Style (9 hours)Focuses on some of the characteristics of successful academic writing across all disciplines, e.g. formality, objectivity, conciseness and impersonality. NOTE: Students need to bring a piece of their own writing (marked) to work on during the workshop.

Clearer Writing (8 hours)Assists the development of students' abilities to write clearer English by exploring some different aspects of cohesion in writing, that is, linking sentences and paragraphs together to produce writing which is logically connected and focused. NOTE: Students need to bring a piece of their own writing (marked) to work on in the workshop.

Functional Grammar for Academic Writing (10 hours)Looks at how you express meaning through grammar in academic writing. Students should be near-fluent speakers/writers of English. NOTE: Students need to bring a piece of their own writing (marked) to work on during the workshop.

Foundations of Grammar (8 hours)Will cover four main problem areas in the grammar: basic sentence structure, tenses, articles, and subject and verb agreement. NOTE: Students should bring along a piece of their own writing to work on in the workshop.

Quoting, Summarising and Paraphrasing Evidence (3 hours)Helps students to understand the use of evidence for their own specific writing purpose, to identify the differences between quoting and reporting, and to practise language strategies to help avoid plagiarism.

Language Strategies for Referring to Evidence (2 hours)Focuses on the different choices available to the writer when referring to evidence. It aims to help students identify the range of grammatical structures, reporting verbs and tenses that are available, and presents guidelines for choosing appropriately.

Quoting, Summarising and Paraphrasing Evidence (3 hours)Helps you to identify the differences between quoting and reporting, and gives practice in language strategies to help avoid plagiarism.

The Oral Presentation Skills workshops aim to develop students' public speaking skills for seminar and conference presentation; cover criteria for successful presentations, the language and structure of a talk and techniques for voice production. They include short practice sessions using video feedback for students to develop skills and confidence in public speaking.

Notetaking in LecturesAvailable as a handout.

PronunciationMaterial published as "English Speech Practice", Drury, H. Available at the Language Centre for self-study.

Pronunciation 2 (Sounds)Provides practice in the pronunciation of the vowels, consonants and consonant clusters of English. The exercises are designed to help students become more aware of their own English pronunciation and to produce certain features of pronunciation in different contexts. Material available as "Pronunciation Tasks", Hewings, M. Available at the Language Centre for self-study.

Postgraduate Research Skills

The courses for research postgraduates offered by the Learning Centre should ideally be attended in the following chronological order.

The courses "Preparing a Thesis Proposal" and "Preparing for Postgraduate Study (Research)" are aimed at students at the beginning of their research. If your proposal involves a literature review, do the Literature Review workshop now.

"Overview of a Thesis" and "Writing a Literature Review" should be attended when the thesis itself is underway, that is, when a substantial amount of reading, planning and (in the case of non-empirical theses) some writing, has been done.

The course "Writing up Research" should be attended when the writing of the theses is well underway and the overall structure of the thesis has taken shape.

"Introductions, Conclusions and Abstracts" is most useful towards the end of the writing process, while "Writing a Journal Article" depends on when the student is planning to publish: this differs from faculty to faculty, student to student.

Preparing for Postgraduate Study (Research)- 3 hoursAimed at students in the preliminary stages of independent research. Includes time management; classifying research approach and methodology; establishing and managing the student-supervisor relationship, accessing and managing electronic and print information and creating a bibliography.

Preparing a Thesis Proposal - 3 hoursProvides models and guidelines for writing a thesis proposal with particular emphasis on the introductory stage and the expression of aims, research questions or hypotheses.

Writing a Literature Review - 6 hoursCovers principles involved in critically reviewing the literature as a section of the thesis or thesis proposal; includes examination of purpose of literature review, structuring and analysis.

Overview of a Thesis - 4 hoursProvides a generalised description of the typical structure and purpose of each part of a thesis.

Writing Introductions, Conclusions and Abstracts - 6 hoursProvides in-depth study of the sections of a thesis and includes overview of staging and analysis of examples.

Writing up Research in the Sciences - 6 hoursTarget group: masters by research, doctoral students (in the process of writing up). Bring: draft of middle section of thesis. Focuses on the structure and language of the middle section of a thesis in the sciences. (Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion).

Writing up Research in the Humanities - 3 hoursTarget group: masters by research, doctoral students. Bring: draft of middle section of thesis. Focuses on the purpose and characteristics of the middle section of a thesis in the humanities with emphasis on analysis and development of an argument.

Writing up Research in the Social Sciences - 3 hoursTarget group: masters by research, doctoral students. Bring: draft of middle section of thesis. Focuses on the purpose and characteristics of the middle section of a thesis in the social sciences.

Writing a Journal Article - 3 hoursThis workshop is for those students who are writing up their research for publication as a journal article. The workshop provides an introduction to the common structure and language of journal articles and to the process of getting an article published.

PLEASE NOTE: Postgraduate international students should also obtain a copy of the Learning Centre program W.E.L.L. (Workshops for English Language and Learning) brochure, which contains information about workshops and other free assistance available specifically for International students.

Honours Program

Managing the Honours Year (2 hours)Target group: honours students in the first semester of their honours yearBring: time linesExamines strategies for setting goals, prioritising tasks and constructing a flexible time plan for the honours year.

Managing the Final Stages of an Honours Year (2 hours)Target group: honours students in the last semester of their honours yearBring: time linesProvides strategies for coping with completing a thesis under pressure. (1 hr on stress management by counselling staff)

Overview of an Honours Thesis (2 hours)Target group: honours students in the first semester of their honours yearBring: content page/thesis outlineProvides a generalised description of the typical structure and purpose of each section of the thesis.

Writing an Honours Proposal (3 hours)Target group: honours students writing/about to write their proposalBring: draft of sections of proposalProvides models and guidelines for writing a thesis proposal.

Developing the Thesis Argument (3 hours)Target group: honours students in the writing processBring: draft of sections of the middle part of the thesisExemplifies how to develop the argument in the middle sections of the thesis by evaluating literature and discussing results.

Introductions, Conclusions and Abstracts (3 hours)Target group: honours students at the end of the thesis writing processBring: draft Introduction & Conclusion (& if possible Abstract)Provides an overview of the structure and language of these sections of a thesis.

Masters Coursework Program

Preparing for Postgraduate Study (Coursework) - 2 hoursIncludes time management, working in small groups, and accessing and managing electronic and print information.

Time Management for Coursework 1 x 2hrsDescription: This workshop will help you plan the rest of this semester, and maximise your use of time for assignment submission and examination preparationBring: your diaries / assignment dates / exam information

Writing Coursework Assignments 1 x 3hrsThis workshop looks at possible structures of coursework assignments, the component parts and the links between themBring: a draft of a current assignment

Managing Literature for Coursework Assignments 1 x 3hrsThis workshop discusses how literature from your field can be used to support argument in your coursework assignment, and looks at strategies for organising your referencesBring: 2 articles for a current coursework assignment

Studying at University

Managing your Time (2 hours)Encourages students to think about their lifestyles, themselves as learners and their current use (or misuse) of time. It assists students in increasing their efficiency by setting goals, prioritising tasks and constructing flexible and workable semester timetables, weekly and daily plans.

Concentration and Procrastination (2 hours)Presents strategies for enhancing concentration and dealing with procrastination.

Preparing for Exams (3 hours)Focuses on students' examination strategies, practises such skills as designing revision schedules, and considers exam performance strategies and how to manage time during exams.

Practice for Essay Exams (3 hours)Covers analysis and classification of essay questions and gives practice in outlining and writing essay answers under time pressure.

Practice for Multiple Choice Question Exams (3 hours)Assists student to identify difficulties with multiple choice question exams and to become familiar with formats, instructions and wordings of such exams. Practical strategies are offered.

Practice for Short Answer Exams (3 hours)Covers analysis and classification of short answer questions and gives practice in outlining and writing short answers under time pressure.

Workshops for English Language and Learning (W.E.L.L.)

This program is designed for international and local under-graduate students who come from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Workshops

As an undergraduate non-English speaking background student, you have access to the W.E.L.L. (Workshops for English Language and Learning) Program. Look for the workshops designated W.E.L.L. in the Learning Centre workshop timetables.

Appropriate undergraduate workshops from our central program are also available to you.

Individual workshops from the W.E.L.L. undergraduate program are offered throughout each semester.

Provides strategies and practice in effective participation in academic discussion, and helps you set up personal goals for developing your skills.

Reading for Effective Notetaking

(3 hours)

Practices strategies for thoughtful notetaking and summarising by identifying structure of text.

Introduction to Critical Reading

(3 hours)

Introduces the process of critical thinking and reading, and practices strategies for evaluating and asking critical questions about your reading.

Reading Strategies

(3 hours)

Practices basic strategies of skimming and scanning.

These workshops and new workshops in the W.E.L.L. undergraduate program will be marked W.E.L.L. undergraduate in our programs and information brochures.

W.E.L.L. POSTGRADUATEWorkshops for English Language and Learning

This program is designed for international and local post-graduate students who come from non-English speaking backgrounds. Some workshops in this program target students doing research degrees at masters and doctoral level, some target masters coursework students, and some workshops are useful for all students.

Workshops

As a postgraduate student, all workshops are available to you. In other central workshops you will be working with native English speaking students; this will help you understand the academic culture in Australia and also give you valuable contacts across disciplines. As a non-English speaking background postgraduate student, you also have access to the W.E.L.L. (Workshops for English Language and Learning) Program. Look for the workshops designated W.E.L.L. in the Learning Centre workshop timetables.

The W.E.L.L. Postgraduate Program is offered at the end of each semester. Individual workshops are offered throughout each semester.

Discussion Skills

(3 hours)

Provides strategies and practice in effective participation in discussions. It investigates different types of discussion at University and helps students set up personal goals. Target group: Non-English speaking background postgraduate students.

Working in Groups

(3 hours)

Focuses on establishing and maintaining a positive group dynamic. Drawing on the experiences of the students, the characteristics of effective groups will be identified, along with differences in cultural attitudes towards group work. The roles and responsibilities of group members in the Australian university context will be discussed. Strategies for changing the dynamic of ineffective groups will be practised through group exercises and role plays. Target group: Non-English speaking background postgraduate coursework students.

Critical Writing at Postgraduate Level

(6 hours)

Presents an overview of writing which demands a critical orientation, with a focus on useful language resources and practice. Target: Non-English speaking background postgraduate students.

Looks at common expectations of supervision based on a small informal survey of international postgraduate students conducted by this Centre. The workshop encourages students to reflect on cultural role differences, and gives them strategies to help them communicate effectively and appropriately with their supervisors, using specific language input, group work and role play activities. Target group: Masters by research and doctoral non-English speaking background students.

Oral Presentation Skills

(8 hours)

Aims to develop students’ public speaking skills for seminar and conference presentation; covers criteria for successful presentations, the language and a structure of a talk and techniques for voice production. It includes short practice sessions using video feedback for students to develop skills and confidence in public speaking. Target group: Non English speaking background postgraduate students. Target group: Non-English speaking background postgraduate students.